UFC on FUEL TV 3's Cerrone clamors for UFC 150 bout with Pettis

FAIRFAX, Va. – Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone has only one choice in mind for the location of his next UFC bout.

“I want to fight in Denver,” Cerrone said Tuesday after beating lightweight Jeremy Stephens. “Whoever’s begging at the bit to go is who I want to fight.”

Cerrone (18-4 MMA, 5-1 UFC) earned a unanimous-decision win against Stephens (20-8 MMA, 7-6 UFC) on the UFC on FUEL TV 3 main card in Fairfax, Va. The result puts Cerrone back on the winning track after a decision loss to Nate Diaz in December.

Before the Diaz bout, Cerrone had six consecutive wins, including four in the UFC in 2011. He’s No. 12 in the USA TODAY/SB Nation consensus rankings for lightweights.

He characterized himself as ready for a top-five opponent.

“Yeah, 100 percent,” Cerrone said. “Hopefully in Denver.”

UFC 150 takes place Aug. 11 in Denver, the promotion announced this past month. The card is far from being finalized

One or two more wins against highly regarded opposition could put Cerrone in the championship conversation. A showdown with No. 8 Anthony Pettis is one potential bout that appeals to Cerrone.

“That’d be a good match-up,” Cerrone said. “Stylistically it’ll work out perfect for me. He’ll stand and want to fight and try and take me down. I’ll beat him up, and then we’ll keep fighting. That’d be good fight, especially for Denver.”

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